Rwanda
Presidential Order determining the Nature, Awarding and Declaration of National Orders
Presidential Order 62 of 2018
- Published in Official Gazette 11 on 12 March 2018
- Assented to on 8 March 2018
- Commenced on 12 March 2018
- [This is the version of this document from 12 March 2018.]
Chapter One
General provisions
Article One – Purpose of this Order
This Order determines the nature, awarding and declaration of national orders granted to persons for their outstanding acts for public interest.Article 2 – Definition of national order
For the purpose of this Order, “national order” means a symbol awarded by national authorities to a person for having performed outstanding acts for the public interest.Article 3 – Types of national orders
Types of national orders are the following:1°Agaciro;2°Igihango;3°Indashyikirwa;4°Indangamirwa;5°Indengabaganizi.Chapter II
Design of national orders
Article 4 – Designs of the national orders
National orders are designed as follows:1ºAgaciro:a national order of honour in circular form with a condensed sunray design and color. In the center there is an eight (8) angled star polygon in opaque green color. The seal of the Republic of Rwanda is engraved in the center and is surrounded by a circle of pantone color blue color in which is inscribed “REPUBLIC OF RWANDA” at the header and “NATIONAL ORDER OF HONOUR: AGACIRO” at the footer;2ºIgihango:a national order of friendship in star form with a condensed sunray design and color with an octagonal shape. In the center there is an eight (8) rayed star. The seal of the Republic of Rwanda is engraved in the center and is surrounded by a circle of pantone color in which is inscribed: “REPUBLIC OF RWANDA” at the header and “NATIONAL ORDER OF FRIENDSHIP: IGIHANGO” at the footer;3ºIndashyikirwa:a national order of performance in a circular form. In its center there are two (2) books in front of an industrial wheel. The whole is surrounded by a circle with inscribed at the header “REPUBULIKA Y’U RWANDA”, and “IMPETA Y’UMURIMO: INDASHYIKIRWA” at the footer;4ºIndangamirwa:a national order of culture in an armorial conical shape. In its center there is a traditional backdrop and a basket seated on a traditional pad. At the header is inscribed: “REPUBULIKA Y’U RWANDA” and “IMPETA Y’UMUCO: INDANGAMIRWA” at the footer;5ºIndengabaganizi:a national order of bravery, is circular shaped with a five (5) rayed star containing in its center an arc and two (2) arrows. The star is surrounded by a circular band with at the header inscribed: “REPUBLIC OF RWANDA” and “NATIONAL ORDER OF BRAVERY: INDENGABAGANIZI” at the footer.Words engraved on the national orders are written in one of the official languages in Rwanda. The use of any other language must first be approved by the competent authority.All national orders in this Order have a ribbon which has colors of National flag.National orders basing on their design are annexed to this Order.Article 5 – Categories of national orders
National orders are divided into the following three (3) categories depending on the material they are made of:1ºnational order in gold:first class;2ºnational order in silver with gold:second class;3ºnational order in silver:third class.The types of National Order provided for in Article 3 of this Order may be attributed to any category provided by Paragraph One of this article due to the outstanding achievement of a beneficiary.Categories of National Orders are annexed to this Order.Chapter III
Awarding and declaration of national orders
Article 6 – Criteria of awarding of national orders
National orders mentioned in Article 3 of this Order are awarded in accordance with the following criteria:1ºthe national order “Agaciro” is awarded to a Rwandan or foreign Head of State or Head of Government, the head of an international organisation or a high-ranking official who has distinguished himself or herself by acts promoting the interests of Rwanda in political, economic, and social welfare at national or international level;2ºthe national order “Igihango” is awarded to an individual or a group of individuals who has acted in an exemplary manner in the promotion of friendship, cooperation between Rwanda and foreign countries and has positively promoted Rwanda at the International scene;3ºthe national order “Indashyikirwa” is awarded to an individual or a group of individuals who has accomplished remarkable and exemplary acts and innovations in the development of the country;4ºthe national order “Indangamirwa” is awarded to an individual or a group of individuals, who has accomplished remarkable and exemplary acts, in the promotion of the Rwandan culture;5ºthe national order “Indengabaganizi” is awarded to an individual or a group of individuals who, in an exemplary way, have demonstrated outstanding supreme act of self-sacrifice to save the life of one or many people.Article 7 – Modalities for approval of beneficiaries of national orders
A list of proposed beneficiaries of national orders is approved at first level by the institution in charge of heroes and national orders. It is then submitted to the Cabinet for final approval.The list is accompanied by a report indicating names, identification, information and testimonies of accomplishment which serve as basis to deserve the national order.The President of the Republic has the power to designate a beneficiary of the national order.Article 8 – Declaration of beneficiaries of national orders
The President of the Republic or his/her delegate notifies beneficiaries of national orders in writing and their names are published in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.Article 9 – Awarding of national orders to beneficiaries
National orders are awarded by the President of the Republic or his/her delegate.Article 10 – Ceremony of awarding national orders
National order awarding ceremony is organized by the State protocol in collaboration with the institution in charge of the National Heroes and National Orders.Chapter IV
Final provisions
Article 11 – Authorities responsible for the implementation of this Order
The Prime Minister, the Minister of Sports and Culture, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and East African Community and the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning are entrusted with the implementation of this Order.Article 12 – Repealing provision
All prior provisions contrary to this Order are repealed.Article 13 – Commencement
This Order comes into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.ANNEX TO PRESIDENTIAL ORDER Nº62/01 OF 08/03/2018 DETERMINING THE NATURE, AWARDING AND DECLARATION OF NATIONAL ORDERS
NATIONAL ORDERS, THEIR DESIGNS AND MEANINGS
1 – IMPETA Y’AGACIRO
DESCRIPTION AND MEANING
AGACIRO: NATIONAL ORDER OF HONOUR
THE RWANDAN COAT OF ARMS MEANS RWANDAN INTERESTSTHE POINTED STAR SURROUNDING THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE REPUBLIC OF RWANDA MEANS TO ACHIEVE THE EXEMPLARY DIFFERENT WORKS AT HIGHEST LEVELCIRCLE WITH PILLARS MEANS STRENGTH AND SUSTAINANCE OF RWANDATHE DESIGNS IN THE NATIONAL ORDER OF HONOR MEAN EXEMPLARY ACHIEVEMENTS UNDERTAKEN FOR THE SUPREME INTEREST OF RWANDA AND THAT HAVE STRENGTHENED AND RAISED RWANDA’S STATURE INTERNATIONALY.2 – IMPETA Y’IGIHANGO
DESCRIPTION AND MEANING
IGIHANGO: THE NATIONAL ORDER OF OUTSTANDING FRIENDSHIP
THE RWANDAN COAT OF ARMS MEANS RWANDAN INTERESTSA STAR MEANS LIGHT THAT SPREADS BRIGHTNESS TO ALL PARTS OF THE WORLDTHE DESIGNS IN THE NATIONAL ORDER OF OUTSTANDING FRIENDSHIP MEAN RWANDA’S REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION THROUGH FRIENDSHIP AND BILATERAL TIES THAT STRENGTHEN ITS STATURE AMONG NATIONS.3 – IMPETA Y’INDASHYIKIRWA
DESCRIPTION AND MEANING
INDASHYIKIRWA: NATIONAL ORDER OF PERFORMANCE
INDUSTRIAL WHEEL MEANS INDUSTRY BASED DEVELOPMENTBOOKS MEAN KNOWLEDGE BASED DEVELOPMENTTHE DESIGNS IN THE NATIONAL ORDER OF PERFORMANCE SYMBOLISE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RWANDA BASED ON KNOWLEDGE AND INDUSTRY LED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.4 – IMPETA Y’INDANGAMIRWA
DESCRIPTION AND MEANING
INDANGAMIRWA: NATIONAL ORDER OF CULTURE
BASKET MEANS THE RWANDAN CULTURE IN ITS CHERISHED UNIQUENESSTRADITIONAL PAD MEANS UNITY OF RWANDANS THAT SUSTAIN THE CULTURAL IDENTITYIMIGONGO MEAN THE PEACE OF MINDTHE DESIGNS IN THE NATIONAL ORDER MEAN THAT RWANDA’S CHERISHED CULTURE IN IT’S UNIQUENESS IS SUSTAINED BY THE UNITY OF RWANDANS5 – IMPETA Y’INDENGABAGANIZI
DESCRIPTION AND MEANING
INDENGABAGANIZI: NATIONAL ORDER OF BRAVERY
AN ARC MEANS BRAVERY OF SELF SACRIFICE TOWARDS OTHERS AND THE COUNTRY AT LARGEARROWS MEAN STRENGTH AND COMMITMENT FOR SELF SACRIFICE FOR EVEN PEOPLE FROM FARFIVE-RAYED STAR MEAN SELF SACRIFICE SPIRIT THAT SPREADS IN ALL DIRECTIONSTHE DESIGNS IN THE NATIONAL ORDER MEAN THE COMMITMENT FOR SELF-SACRIFICE FOR THE WELL BEING OF OTHERS AT THE RISK OF ONES LIFE.History of this document
12 March 2018 this version
Commenced
08 March 2018
Assented to